Buttes

Buttes was until December 31, 2008, a municipality in the district of Val -de- Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Since January 1, 2009 Buttes belongs together with Boveresse, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayard, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint- Sulpice and Travers merged to Val -de- Travers.

Geography

Buttes is located at 770 m above sea level. M., 31 km west-southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The scattered village extends in the valley of the creek Le Buttes, which geographically belongs to the valley of the Val de Travers, in the southwestern Neuchâtel Jura.

The area of ​​18.2 km ² large former municipal area includes the valley Vallon du Buttes, which is drained by the river Buttes to Areuse. This valley has at the bottom of a 700 m wide flat valley floor, in the upper part it is cut deep into the heights of the Jura. To the south, the municipality's area extended over the densely wooded hillside to the anticline Chasseron. The southern border ran over the ridge of Roches Blanches ( with 1,470 m above sea level, the highest point of the Buttes. ), Cret de la Neige ( 1'457 m asl, . Should not be confused with the eponymous highest mountain of the Jura ) and Cret of Lisières. To the north of the municipality bottom handed to the broad anticline of the Montagne de Buttes ( 1,245 m above sea level. M. ). Here there is an extensive Jura mountain meadows with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 60 % of forest and shrubs, 35 % to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

At Buttes belonged to the hamlet of Mont de Buttes ( 1'056 m above sea level. M. ) on a headland on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Buttes and numerous Hofsiedlungen and individual farms on the Montagne de Buttes. Neighboring communities of La Côte- aux Buttes were fées - Les Verrieres Les Bayard, Saint- Sulpice and Fleurier in Neuchâtel and Fontaines- sur -Grandson and Fiez in the canton of Vaud.

Population

With 610 inhabitants ( end of 2006) Buttes was one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 90.7 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 3.3 % and 3.0 % portugiesischsprachig in German (as of 2000). The population of Buttes rose to 1870 (1436 inhabitants) continuously. From 1900 to 1990 ( 594 inhabitants) has decreased by more than half, since then, a slight increase is observed.

Economy

Buttes has long been a mainly coined by farming village. In the 18th century, partly the asphalt discovered there by the German Jost was mined (later of La Presta ) in the municipality. Until 1862 a brickyard was operated, then gradually became the watch industry by. The last watch factory was closed in 1991. Today, there are jobs in mechanical workshops and local small businesses. Agriculture, too, with livestock and dairy farming, and forestry are still important. Many workers are also commuters and work in the larger towns of the Val de Travers or in Neuchâtel.

Traffic

The former municipality is traffic moderately well developed. It lies on the main road from Fleurier to Sainte- Croix. On September 11, 1886, the railway company RVT owned railway line of Fleurier was inaugurated by Buttes. From the Buttes Station post bus to La Côte- aux course - fées and sometimes up to Sainte- Croix. A cable car takes you to the site of terrace Petite Robella where winter lifts are in operation.

History

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1300 under the name Boutes. The place was a horse -changing station at the Vy Saulnier, a former Salt Road of France through the Jura to Neuchâtel. Buttes first belonged to the priory of Saint- Pierre in Môtiers, after that it was under from the 14th century until 1848 the Kastlanei Val- de -Travers. During this time, the County of Neuchâtel held the sovereignty over the territory. Since 1648 Neuchâtel principality and 1707 was linked by personal union with the Kingdom of Prussia. 1806, the region was ceded to Napoleon I. and came in 1815 during the Congress of Vienna to the Swiss Confederation, the kings of Prussia until 1857 Neuchâtel trade also prince of Neuchâtel remained.

Attractions

The Reformed village church of Buttes was built in 1705, the bell tower dates from 1854. It stands on the site of the former chapel of Saint- Maurice.